The Library
Read Classic Literature in English
Learn English by reading the books worth reading. Every book is the complete text, labelled A2 to C2 — tap any word for an instant translation, hear natural audio narration, and save the vocabulary you meet as you go. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
Level C1MysteryThe Secret of Wyvern TowersIn the shadowed glades of Wyvern Towers, Felix Drelincourt grapples with the shocking murder of his wife, Kate, unraveling a dark mystery that threatens to shatter their past and r…
Level C1HistoricalThe Secret of Charlotte Brontë: Followed by Remiiscences of the real Monsieur and Madame HegerUncover the hidden truths behind Charlotte Brontë's mysterious final year in Brussels through her intimate letters and heartfelt confessions, revealing a poignant story of love, lo…
Level C1RomanceThe Secret WitnessIn the sunlit rose gardens of Konopisht, a spirited countess and a determined diplomat share a passionate, whispered promise—yet shadows of fate and forbidden desire threaten their…
Level C1ClassicsThe Secret SharerA newly appointed captain, unfamiliar with his crew and himself, faces an eerie stillness as his ship anchors near mysterious islands, where an unexpected vessel looms—setting the…
Level C1MysteryThe Secret Service Submarine: A Story of the Present WarRejected from service and stuck teaching at a rundown coastal school, John Carey finds escape in the wild marshes, where his passion for shooting and the mysterious surroundings se…
Level C1Science FictionThe Secret PowerIn the remote mountains of Southern California, a reclusive man immersed in mysterious calculations lives apart from society, feigning illness to escape the dazzling world below—un…
Level C1ClassicsThe Secret Places of the HeartA high-ranking official, tormented by the ethical chaos of a national fuel commission, seeks solace from a kindly doctor who listens as tensions mount and the threat of societal co…
Level C1MysteryThe Secret PassageA young woman seeking a quiet new start takes a parlor-maid position in a mysterious cottage where the sharp-eyed mistress hides secrets behind lavish decor and frequent card games…
Level C1PhilosophyThe Secret Life: Being the Book of a HereticA restless mind wrestles with the masks worn in polite society, seeking refuge in a secret diary where forbidden truths and private heresies quietly unfold beneath the surface of e…
Level C1MysteryThe Secret HouseIn a shadowy London office, a mysterious foreigner takes a discreet job decoding scandalous secrets from aristocratic servants’ letters, uncovering hidden intrigues beneath high so…
Level C1ClassicsThe Secret GloryAn eccentric man struggles against the rigid conventions of his world, caught between madness and profound insight.
Level C1AdventureThe Secret Dispatch; or, The Adventures of Captain BalgonieA young British officer in Russian service struggles through a harsh April night, lost in the wilds of Western Russia, facing perilous rivers and treacherous foes as he seeks a sec…
Level C1HistoricalThe Secret CityIn a gritty post-war Russia, two strangers—ambitious and disillusioned—navigate cultural clashes and personal ambitions amidst the shadows of a secret city.
Level C1AdventureThe Secret Chamber at ChadUnder the moonlit skies of a grand old estate, three brothers face the quiet before a storm of family rivalry and hidden secrets.
Level C1MysteryThe Secret Agent: A Simple TaleIn a grimy London shop that sells shady wares, Mr.
Level C1ClassicsThe Second Mrs. Tanqueray: A Play in Four ActsAubrey Tanqueray, a charming bachelor, surprises his closest friends with news of his imminent marriage to a mysterious woman whose past may challenge their social circle.
Level C1AdventureThe Second MateA battered ship steams toward danger with a drunken crew and mutiny brewing below decks.
Level C1AdventureThe Second LatchkeyAnnesley Grayle faces a heart-pounding decision as she steps into the dazzling Savoy, caught between fear and a desperate need for change.
Level C1Children'sThe Second GenerationIn a bustling flour mill, a hardworking owner commands respect through strength and skill, while his stylish, nervous son returns from a different world, setting the stage for a cl…
Level C1HistoricalThe Second Funeral of NapoleonDelve into a provocative exploration of history’s grand figures stripped of their public façades, revealing the human frailties behind legendary deeds.
Level C1Science FictionThe Second DelugeA brilliant scientist races against time to decipher ominous cosmic signs predicting a catastrophic deluge that will drown the Earth.
Level C1MysteryThe Second Dandy ChaterIn a bleak Essex marshland, a mysterious man returns to a village where he is mistaken for the elusive Dandy Chater, drawing him into a web of secrets, mistaken identities, and des…
Level C1ClassicsThe Second Class Passenger: Fifteen StoriesIn the sultry streets of Mozambique, a second-class passenger's quest to retrieve a mysterious bronze idol plunges him into a shadowy world where danger lurks in every dark alley a…
Level C1PoetryThe Second Book of Modern Verse: A Selection from the Work of Contemporaneous American PoetsExplore a rich collection of contemporary American poetry capturing the spirit and voices of the early 20th century, featuring diverse themes and styles from a vibrant generation o…
Level C1HistoricalThe Seats of the Mighty, CompleteAmid the fierce struggles for control of French Canada, a daring Scottish officer and a mysterious figure entwine in a high-stakes tale of ambition, loyalty, and adventure during t…
Level C1AdventureThe Search for the Silver City: A Tale of Adventure in YucatanA young adventurer's summer plans shift when a schoolmate falls ill, leading to an unexpected invitation aboard a grand steam yacht.
Level C1ClassicsThe Search PartyIn the remote, uninviting Rosivera house, a mysterious new tenant named Guy Theodore Red settles in for six months, sparking curiosity and suspicion among the local gentry and Dr.![Cover of The Search After Hapiness [sic]: A Tale by Charlotte Brontë](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da8lcg5nmvfc73bids10.webp)
Level C1PhilosophyThe Search After Hapiness [sic]: A TaleA restless nobleman leaves his grand city behind to seek true happiness, confronting solitude and uncertainty.
Level C1MysteryThe Sealed MessageTwo friends escape to a tranquil trout stream, where rivalries and romantic tensions simmer beneath the surface.
Level C1RomanceThe SeafarersA young woman faces a heart-wrenching farewell as she prepares to leave her home for a distant, unfamiliar world, haunted by eerie dreams that foreshadow the extraordinary and stra…
Level C1ClassicsThe Seaboard Parish, CompleteAn intimate reflection on aging and wisdom unfolds as a storyteller invites elder readers to embrace life’s deeper truths, urging them to keep their hearts young amidst the passage…
Level C1AdventureThe Sea-WolfCaught in a dense San Francisco fog, a landlubber embarks on a ferry steamer journey, unaware that the sea’s hidden dangers and fierce characters await to challenge his perception…
Level C1AdventureThe Sea-Witch; Or, The African Quadroon: A Story of the Slave CoastA swift and sleek ship named the Sea Witch sails the Atlantic, crewed by seasoned sailors under the command of a young but confident captain.
Level C1AdventureThe Sea Lions; Or, The Lost SealersAmid the unforgiving polar ice, a group of sealers embarks on a perilous expedition that tests human endurance and humility against nature’s sublime and merciless power.
Level C1ClassicsThe Sea FogsA writer battles fragile health amid the haunting, poisonous sea fogs of California’s coast, seeking hope and happiness in a deserted mining camp while witnessing nature’s breathta…
Level C1ClassicsThe Scripture Club of Valley Rest; or, Sketches of Everybody's NeighboursIn a quaint village, neighbors gather in the Scripture Club, sparking lively discussions and revealing the charming intricacies of small-town life.
Level C1RomanceThe Scourge of God: A Romance of Religious PersecutionAs a revered French noblewoman faces her final moments amid whispers of scandal and devotion, the shadows of religious persecution loom large, setting the stage for a gripping tale…
Level C1HistoricalThe Scottish History of James the Fourth: 1598Step into a richly woven drama where kings, queens, and mythical fairies collide in a tale inspired by distant legends, set against the backdrop of Scotland’s royal court.
Level C1AdventureThe Scottish ChiefsIn a Scotland crushed under English conquest, William Wallace retreats to a quiet life with his beloved Marion, torn between resignation and a burning desire to restore his nation'…
Level C1RomanceThe Scottish Cavalier: An Historical Romance, Volume 3 (of 3)Amidst the frozen Scottish winter, Lilian is kidnapped and imprisoned in the forbidding tower of Clermistonlee, where dark secrets and dangerous intentions threaten her fate—can sh…
Level C1RomanceThe Scottish Cavalier: An Historical Romance, Volume 2 (of 3)In the turbulent 17th century, a Scottish cavalier navigates love, loyalty, and war amidst the storied Scottish Guard serving the French king.
Level C1RomanceThe Scottish Cavalier: An Historical Romance, Volume 1 (of 3)In 17th-century Scotland, amidst political intrigue and ancient castles steeped in legend, a young cavalier navigates love, loyalty, and rebellion.
Level C1HistoricalThe Scott CountryExplore the rugged Borderlands and storied landscapes that inspired a legendary master of romance, where ancient castles, haunted glades, and historic towns breathe life into tales…
Level C1ClassicsThe Scornful LadyTwo brothers face debts and romantic trials, while a proud lady's cold heart challenges their hopes for love and reconciliation in a world where wit and will collide.
Level C1ClassicsThe Schoolmistress: A Farce in Three ActsAt Volumnia College, the mysterious absence of the schoolmistress and the secret presence of her enigmatic husband spark intrigue among servants and students alike, setting the sta…
Level C1Children'sThe School-Girls in Number 40; or, Principle Put to the TestTwo schoolgirls prepare to leave their homes for boarding school, facing the bittersweet challenges of packing, parting, and stepping into new independence.
Level C1ClassicsThe School for HusbandsTwo contrasting husbands—one strict and controlling, the other wise and trusting—navigate the challenges of marriage and authority, revealing that kindness triumphs over tyranny in…
Level C1Children'sThe School Friends; Or, Nothing NewTwo school friends from different worlds—steadfast Lance and lively Emery—navigate friendship, family duty, and social expectations at Elmerston Grammar-School, while Lance cares f…
Why it works
Why read classics to learn English
Graded by real CEFR level
Every book is labelled B1, B2 or C1 so you can pick something that stretches you without overwhelming you.
Tap any word to translate
Touch a word or phrase to see it in your language instantly — no dictionary, no leaving the page.
Audio narration & pronunciation
Listen to clear, natural narration and read along to train your ear as well as your eye.
Vocabulary from your own reading
Save the words you meet; they become flashcards built from the books you actually read.
Questions
Learning English by reading
Reading exposes you to real grammar, vocabulary and phrasing in context — far more memorably than word lists. With instant translation and audio on every page, you stay in the story instead of stalling on unknown words, which is what builds fluency.
Choose a book one notch above where you feel comfortable: B1 if you read everyday English, B2 if you can follow longer articles, C1 for literary prose. You can always tap words you don’t know — a little stretch is exactly how you level up.
Sample chapters are free to read with no account. To read a full book — with tap-to-translate, audio narration and saved progress — you start your trial at quiz.nikmas.studio.
Not for sample chapters — they open with no signup. To read a whole book you start your trial at quiz.nikmas.studio, which keeps your vocabulary and place across devices.